Concepts for identifying an asset sort location

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for facilitating the sorting of assets to sort locations. In various embodiments, a sort employee scans an asset indicia using a user device, which stores asset data corresponding to the stored asset. As the sort employee nears a sort location (e.g., a delivery vehicle) with the asset and the user device, the user device automatically communicates wirelessly with a sort location receiver to associate the asset data with data indicative of the sort location where the user deposits the asset. In various embodiments, a device may determine whether the user device is proximate the appropriate sort location for the item, and may generate an alert upon a determination that the user device is proximate an incorrect sort location.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/741,100 filed Jun. 16, 2015, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

For large scale common carriers, it is important to maintain accurateinformation regarding the location of various assets shipped from avariety of origins to a variety of destinations. The various assetsoften undergo multiple sort procedures, and are moved from onetransportation vehicle to another as each asset moves closer to itsintended destination.

The sort procedures often require many employees to sort assets arrivingin several vehicles, and these assets may be placed in several locationscorresponding to their next stop before reaching an intendeddestination. The employees may receive some indication of the propersort location for each asset, such as text printed on each asset orinstructions scrolling across a video screen (as described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/204,657, incorporated herein in itsentirety). The employee may then place the asset in the proper sortlocation after receiving the sort location indicator. In variouscircumstances, the employee may manually identify the location at whichthe asset is placed, and thereby maintain a record of the location ofthe asset throughout the shipping process.

However, historical concepts for identifying the location of an assethave been cumbersome, requiring sort employees to individually identifythe sort location for each of a plurality of assets being sorted. Forexample, a sort employee may be required to scan indicia on each asset(e.g., a bar code) and subsequently scan a similar indicia on the sortlocation in order to associate the asset with the sort location.Alternatively, the sort employee may be required to first scan indiciaon a sort location, and then scan a similar indicia on each of one ormore assets to be associated with the single sort location. Regardlessof the scan order (e.g., asset first or sort location first), the sortemployee is required to scan a new sort location indicia each time anasset is to be sorted to a second sort location. Requiring employees toscan multiple indicia significantly reduces sorting efficiency andincreases the possibility of employee error. Should an employee fail toscan the proper sort location indicia before placing an asset at a sortlocation, the asset location may be improperly stored, and such assetmay be transported to an incorrect destination. Such events mayadditionally result in improper reporting from data storage devices.

Such historical systems and methods for maintaining accurate assetlocation information for a plurality of sorted assets are thus expensiveto implement and do not eliminate possible sort errors. Thus, a needexists for an improved system and method for maintaining accuraterecords of the location of an asset in a sort process.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a systemfor associating a sorted item with a sort location, wherein the systemcomprises: (1) one or more location devices associated with a sortlocation; and (2) a user device configured to be carried by a user. Invarious embodiments, the user device comprises: (1) a user devicememory; and (2) one or more user device computer processors configuredto: receive asset identifier data corresponding to an asset; store theasset identifier data corresponding to the asset; and upon being broughtwithin a communication area associated with the sort location,transmitting at least a portion of the asset identifier data to the oneor more location devices. In various embodiments, the one or morelocation devices comprise: (1) a location device memory; and (2) one ormore location device computer processors configured to: store locationdata indicative of the identity of the sort location; receive at least aportion of the asset identifier data transmitted from the user device;and after receiving at least a portion of the asset identifier datatransmitted from the user device, associate the asset identifier dataand the location data. In various embodiments, the one or more locationdevice computer processors are further configured to: (1) afterreceiving at least a portion of the asset identifier data transmittedfrom the user device, receive data indicating whether the sort locationis an appropriate sort location for the asset; or (2) after receiving atleast a portion of the asset identifier data transmitted from the userdevice, determine whether the sort location is the appropriate sortlocation for the asset. Moreover, in various embodiments, the system forassociating a sorted item with a sort location may further comprise acontrol system operatively connected to at least the one or morelocation devices, the control system comprising: (1) a control systemmemory; and (2) one or more control system computer processorsconfigured to: receive the portion of the asset identifier data and thelocation data; determine, based at least in part on the received assetidentifier data and the location data, whether the sort location is theappropriate sort location for the asset; upon a determination that thesort location is not the appropriate sort location for the asset,generate mistake data indicative of the determination; upon adetermination that the sort location is the appropriate sort locationfor the asset, generate confirmation data indicative of thedetermination; and transmit the generated mistake data or confirmationdata to the one or more location devices. In various embodiments, theone or more location device computer processors are further configuredto transmit the received portion of the asset identifier data and thelocation data.

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a systemfor associating a sorted item with a sort location, wherein the systemcomprises: (1) a user device configured to be carried by a user; and (2)one or more location devices associated with a sort location. In variousembodiments, the one or more location devices comprise: (1) a locationdevice memory; and (2) one or more location device computer processorsconfigured to: store location data indicative of the identity of thesort location; and transmit at least a portion of the locationidentifier data to the user device. In various embodiments, the userdevice comprises: (1) a user device memory; and (2) one or more userdevice computer processors configured to: receive asset identifier datacorresponding to an asset; store the asset identifier data correspondingto the asset; upon being brought within a communication area associatedwith the sort location, receive the transmitted portion of the locationdata from the one or more location devices; and after receiving at leasta portion of the location data transmitted from the one or more locationdevices, transmit the asset identifier data and the location data to acontrol system. In various embodiments, the system for associating asorted item with a sort location may additionally comprise a controlsystem operatively connected to at least the user device, the controlsystem comprising: (1) a control system memory; and (2) one or morecontrol system computer processors configured to: receive the portion ofthe asset identifier data and the location data; determine, based atleast in part on the received asset identifier data and the locationdata, whether the sort location is the appropriate sort location for theasset; upon a determination that the sort location is not theappropriate sort location for the asset, generate mistake dataindicative of the determination; upon a determination that the sortlocation is the appropriate sort location for the asset, generateconfirmation data indicative of the determination; and transmit the dataindicative of the determination to the user device. In variousembodiments, the one or more user device computer processors are furtherconfigured to transmit the received portion of the location data and theasset identifier data.

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to acomputer-implemented method for associating a sorted item with a sortlocation, the method comprising steps for: (1) receiving assetidentifier data for an asset; (2) associating the asset with a userdevice; (3) determining the location of the user device relative to asort location; and (4) after determining that the user device isproximate the sort location, associating the asset identifier data withsort location data corresponding to the sort location. In variousembodiments, the computer-implemented method for associating a sorteditem with a sort location may additionally comprise steps for: (5)determining an appropriate sort location for the asset; and (6) afterdetermining that the user device is proximate the sort location,determining whether the sort location is the appropriate sort location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overview of a system that can be used to practiceembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary schematic diagram of a control system accordingto one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary schematic diagram of a user device according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary schematic of a facility in which assets aresorted according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operations and processes performed bya user device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operations and processes performed bya location device according to one embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating operations and processes performed bya control system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not allembodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legalrequirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

I. Overview

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems andmethods for associating an asset with a particular sort location. Asused herein, an asset may be an employee, a parcel or group of parcels,a package or group of packages, a box, a crate, a drum, a box strappedto a pallet, and/or the like. As described herein, a sort employee mayutilize a user device comprising an indicia reader (e.g., an RFID tagreader, optical scanner, and/or a plurality of indicia readers) toobtain data indicative of the asset identity. The sort employee may thentransport the asset to a sort location identified for the asset (e.g.,printed on the asset). In various embodiments, the user device maydisplay the proper sort location for the asset via a display device. Asthe sort employee nears and/or enters a sort location (e.g., enters adelivery vehicle) and thereby enters the effective transmission range ofone or more wireless beacons associated with the sort location, the userdevice may receive a signal from one or more of the wireless beaconsindicating the identity of the sort location (e.g., Delivery Vehicle123). In various embodiments the user device determines whether thereceived signal satisfies one or more signal criteria, such as athreshold strength requirement and/or whether the user device receivessignals from at least a threshold number of beacons. Upon adetermination that the user device is at least proximate the sortlocation associated with the received signals and the one or more signalcriteria are satisfied, the user device transmits asset identity dataand sort location identity data to a control system, which determines,based on stored sort data, whether the sort location is the appropriatesort location for the asset. If the control system determines the assetis proximate the appropriate sort location, the control system may causeconfirmation data to be sent to the user device, which may display aconfirmation message to the sort employee. Alternatively, if the controlsystem determines the asset is being placed in an incorrect sortlocation, the control system may cause mistake data to be sent to theuser device, which may display a mistake message indicating the asset isbeing placed in an improper sort location.

In various embodiments, as the sort employee nears a sort location(e.g., a delivery vehicle) the user device may transmit the received andstored data to a receiver associated with the nearby sort location. Ifthe receiver associated with the sort location determines the asset isbeing placed in the appropriate sort location (e.g., based at least inpart on data stored by a control system), the receiver may causeconfirmation data to be sent to the user device, which may display aconfirmation message to the sort employee. Alternatively, if thereceiver associated with the sort location determines the asset is beingplaced in an incorrect sort location, the receiver may cause mistakedata to be sent to the user device, which may display a mistake messageindicating the asset is being placed in an improper sort location.

II. Computer Program Products, Methods, and Computing Entities

Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in various ways,including as computer program products that comprise articles ofmanufacture. A computer program product may include a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing applications, programs, programmodules, scripts, source code, program code, object code, byte code,compiled code, interpreted code, machine code, executable instructions,and/or the like (also referred to herein as executable instructions,instructions for execution, computer program products, program code,and/or similar terms used herein interchangeably). Such non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media include all computer-readable media(including volatile and non-volatile media).

In one embodiment, a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium mayinclude a floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, solid-state storage(SSS) (e.g., a solid state drive (SSD), solid state card (SSC), solidstate module (SSM)), enterprise flash drive, magnetic tape, or any othernon-transitory magnetic medium, and/or the like. A non-volatilecomputer-readable storage medium may also include a punch card, papertape, optical mark sheet (or any other physical medium with patterns ofholes or other optically recognizable indicia), compact disc read onlymemory (CD-ROM), compact disc-rewritable (CD-RW), digital versatile disc(DVD), Blu-ray disc (BD), any other non-transitory optical medium,and/or the like. Such a non-volatile computer-readable storage mediummay also include read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory(PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electricallyerasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory (e.g.,Serial, NAND, NOR, and/or the like), multimedia memory cards (MMC),secure digital (SD) memory cards, SmartMedia cards, CompactFlash (CF)cards, Memory Sticks, and/or the like. Further, a non-volatilecomputer-readable storage medium may also include conductive-bridgingrandom access memory (CBRAM), phase-change random access memory (PRAM),ferroelectric random-access memory (FeRAM), non-volatile random-accessmemory (NVRAM), magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM), resistiverandom-access memory (RRAM), Silicon-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Silicon memory(SONOS), floating junction gate random access memory (FJG RAM),Millipede memory, racetrack memory, and/or the like.

In one embodiment, a volatile computer-readable storage medium mayinclude random access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM),static random access memory (SRAM), fast page mode dynamic random accessmemory (FPM DRAM), extended data-out dynamic random access memory (EDODRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double datarate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), double datarate type two synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR2 SDRAM),double data rate type three synchronous dynamic random access memory(DDR3 SDRAM), Rambus dynamic random access memory (RDRAM), TwinTransistor RAM (TTRAM), Thyristor RAM (T-RAM), Zero-capacitor (Z-RAM),Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM), dual in-line memory module (DIMM),single in-line memory module (SIMM), video random access memory (VRAM),cache memory (including various levels), flash memory, register memory,and/or the like. It will be appreciated that where embodiments aredescribed to use a computer-readable storage medium, other types ofcomputer-readable storage media may be substituted for or used inaddition to the computer-readable storage media described above.

As should be appreciated, various embodiments of the present inventionmay also be implemented as methods, apparatus, systems, computingdevices, computing entities, and/or the like. As such, embodiments ofthe present invention may take the form of an apparatus, system,computing device, computing entity, and/or the like executinginstructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium to performcertain steps or operations. However, embodiments of the presentinvention may also take the form of an entirely hardware embodimentperforming certain steps or operations.

Embodiments of the present invention are described below with referenceto block diagrams and flowchart illustrations. Thus, it should beunderstood that each block of the block diagrams and flowchartillustrations may be implemented in the form of a computer programproduct, an entirely hardware embodiment, a combination of hardware andcomputer program products, and/or apparatus, systems, computing devices,computing entities, and/or the like carrying out instructions,operations, steps, and similar words used interchangeably (e.g., theexecutable instructions, instructions for execution, program code,and/or the like) on a computer-readable storage medium for execution.For example, retrieval, loading, and execution of code may be performedsequentially such that one instruction is retrieved, loaded, andexecuted at a time. In some exemplary embodiments, retrieval, loading,and/or execution may be performed in parallel such that multipleinstructions are retrieved, loaded, and/or executed together. Thus, suchembodiments can produce specifically-configured machines performing thesteps or operations specified in the block diagrams and flowchartillustrations. Accordingly, the block diagrams and flowchartillustrations support various combinations of embodiments for performingthe specified instructions, operations, or steps.

III. Exemplary System Architecture

Generally, embodiments of the present invention relate to concepts foridentifying an appropriate sort location for an asset, and forfacilitating the appropriate sorting of each asset. For example,embodiments of the present invention may be used to notify sortpersonnel of the appropriate sort location for an asset. FIG. 1 is aschematic diagram showing the exemplary communication relationshipsbetween components of various embodiments of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 1, the system may include one or more control systems 100,one or more user devices 110, one or more location devices 415, and oneor more networks 105. Each of the components of the system may be inelectronic communication with one another over the same or differentwireless or wired networks including, for example, a wired or wirelessPersonal Area Network (PAN), Local Area Network (LAN), Metropolitan AreaNetwork (MAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or the like. Additionally, whileFIG. 1 illustrates certain system entities as separate, standaloneentities, the various embodiments are not limited to this particulararchitecture.

A. Exemplary Control System

FIG. 2 provides a schematic of a control system 100 according to oneembodiment of the present invention. As described above, the controlsystem 100 may be incorporated into a system as one or more componentsfor providing information regarding the appropriate sort location foreach of one or more assets 10. In general, the terms computing entity,computer, entity, device, system, and/or similar words used hereininterchangeably may refer to, for example, one or more computers,computing entities, desktops, mobile phones, tablets, phablets,notebooks, laptops, distributed systems, gaming consoles (e.g., Xbox,Play Station, Wii), watches, glasses, key fobs, radio frequencyidentification (RFID) tags, ear pieces, scanners, televisions, dongles,cameras, wristbands, kiosks, input terminals, servers or servernetworks, blades, gateways, switches, processing devices, processingentities, set-top boxes, relays, routers, network access points, basestations, the like, and/or any combination of devices or entitiesadapted to perform the functions, operations, and/or processes describedherein. Such functions, operations, and/or processes may include, forexample, transmitting, receiving, operating on, processing, displaying,storing, determining, creating/generating, monitoring, evaluating,comparing, and/or similar terms used herein interchangeably. In oneembodiment, these functions, operations, and/or processes can beperformed on data, content, information, and/or similar terms usedherein interchangeably. The control system 100 may also comprise variousother systems, such as an Address Matching System (AMS), an InternetMembership System (IMS), a Customer Profile System (CPS), a PackageCenter Information System (PCIS), a Customized Pickup and DeliverySystem (CPAD), a Web Content Management System (WCMS), a NotificationEmail System (NES), a Fraud Prevention System (FPS), and a variety ofother systems and their corresponding components.

As indicated, in one embodiment, the control system 100 may also includeone or more communications interfaces 220 for communicating with variouscomputing entities, such as by communicating data, content, information,and/or similar terms used herein interchangeably that can betransmitted, received, operated on, processed, displayed, stored, and/orthe like.

As shown in FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the control system 100 mayinclude or be in communication with one or more processing elements 205(also referred to as processors, processing circuitry, and/or similarterms used herein interchangeably) that communicate with other elementswithin the control system 100 via a bus, for example. As will beunderstood, the processing element 205 may be embodied in a number ofdifferent ways. For example, the processing element 205 may be embodiedas one or more complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs),microprocessors, multi-core processors, coprocessing entities,application-specific instruction-set processors (ASIPs),microcontrollers, and/or controllers. Further, the processing element205 may be embodied as one or more other processing devices orcircuitry. The term circuitry may refer to an entirely hardwareembodiment or a combination of hardware and computer program products.Thus, the processing element 205 may be embodied as integrated circuits,application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmablegate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), hardwareaccelerators, other circuitry, and/or the like. As will therefore beunderstood, the processing element 205 may be configured for aparticular use or configured to execute instructions stored in volatileor non-volatile media or otherwise accessible to the processing element205. As such, whether configured by hardware or computer programproducts, or by a combination thereof, the processing element 205 may becapable of performing steps or operations according to embodiments ofthe present invention when configured accordingly.

In one embodiment, the control system 100 may further include or be incommunication with non-volatile media (also referred to as non-volatilestorage, memory, memory storage, memory circuitry and/or similar termsused herein interchangeably). In one embodiment, the non-volatilestorage or memory may include one or more non-volatile storage or memorymedia 210, including but not limited to hard disks, ROM, PROM, EPROM,EEPROM, flash memory, MMCs, SD memory cards, Memory Sticks, CBRAM, PRAM,FeRAM, NVRAM, MRAM, RRAM, SONOS, FJG RAM, Millipede memory, racetrackmemory, and/or the like. As will be recognized, the non-volatile storageor memory media may store databases, database instances, databasemanagement systems, data, applications, programs, program modules,scripts, source code, object code, byte code, compiled code, interpretedcode, machine code, executable instructions, and/or the like. Such codemay include an operating system, an acquisition module, a sort locationmodule, a matching module, and a notification module. The termsdatabase, database instance, database management system, and/or similarterms used herein interchangeably may refer to a structured collectionof records or data that is stored in a computer-readable storage medium,such as via a relational database, hierarchical database, and/or networkdatabase.

In one embodiment, the control system 100 may further include or be incommunication with volatile media (also referred to as volatile storage,memory, memory storage, memory circuitry and/or similar terms usedherein interchangeably). In one embodiment, the volatile storage ormemory may also include one or more volatile storage or memory media215, including but not limited to RAM, DRAM, SRAM, FPM DRAM, EDO DRAM,SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, DDR3 SDRAM, RDRAM, TTRAM, T-RAM, Z-RAM,RIMM, DIMM, SIMM, VRAM, cache memory, register memory, and/or the like.As will be recognized, the volatile storage or memory media may be usedto store at least portions of the databases, database instances,database management systems, data, applications, programs, programmodules, scripts, source code, object code, byte code, compiled code,interpreted code, machine code, executable instructions, and/or the likebeing executed by, for example, the processing element 205. Thus, thedatabases, database instances, database management systems, data,applications, programs, program modules, scripts, source code, objectcode, byte code, compiled code, interpreted code, machine code,executable instructions, and/or the like may be used to control certainaspects of the operation of the control system 100 with the assistanceof the processing element 205 and operating system.

As indicated, in one embodiment, the control system 100 may also includeone or more communications interfaces 220 for communicating with variouscomputing entities, such as by communicating data, content, information,and/or similar terms used herein interchangeably that can betransmitted, received, operated on, processed, displayed, stored, and/orthe like. Such communication may be executed using a wired datatransmission protocol, such as fiber distributed data interface (FDDI),digital subscriber line (DSL), Ethernet, asynchronous transfer mode(ATM), frame relay, data over cable service interface specification(DOCSIS), or any other wired transmission protocol. Similarly, thecontrol system 100 may be configured to communicate via wirelessexternal communication networks using any of a variety of protocols,such as general packet radio service (GPRS), Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS), Code Division Multiple Access 2000(CDMA2000), CDMA2000 1X (1xRTT), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access(WCDMA), Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access(TD-SCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Evolved Universal TerrestrialRadio Access Network (E-UTRAN), Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO), HighSpeed Packet Access (HSPA), High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA),IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), 802.16 (WiMAX), ultra wideband (UWB), infrared (IR)protocols, near field communication (NFC) protocols, Bluetooth™protocols (e.g., Bluetooth™ Smart), wireless universal serial bus (USB)protocols, and/or any other wireless protocol.

Although not shown, the control system 100 may include or be incommunication with one or more input elements, such as a keyboard input,a mouse input, a touch screen/display input, motion input, movementinput, audio input, pointing device input, joystick input, keypad input,and/or the like. The control system 100 may also include or be incommunication with one or more output elements (not shown), such asaudio output, video output, screen/display output, motion output,movement output, and/or the like.

As will be appreciated, one or more of the control system's 100components may be located remotely from other control system 100components, such as in a distributed system. Furthermore, one or more ofthe components may be combined and additional components performingfunctions described herein may be included in the control system 100.Thus, the control system 100 can be adapted to accommodate a variety ofneeds and circumstances. As will be recognized, these architectures anddescriptions are provided for exemplary purposes only and are notlimiting to the various embodiments.

B. Exemplary User Device

A user 5 may be an individual (e.g., sort personnel), group ofindividuals, and/or the like. In various embodiments, a user 5 mayoperate a user device 110 that includes one or more components that arefunctionally similar to those of the control system 100. FIG. 3 providesa schematic of a user device 110 according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. As noted above in referencing the control system 100,the term “computing entity” may refer to, for example, one or morecomputers, computing entities, desktops, mobile phones, tablets,phablets, notebooks, laptops, distributed systems, gaming consoles(e.g., Xbox, Play Station, Wii), watches, glasses, key fobs, RFID tags,ear pieces, scanners, televisions, dongles, cameras, wristbands, kiosks,input terminals, servers or server networks, blades, gateways, switches,processing devices, processing entities, set-top boxes, relays, routers,network access points, base stations, the like, and/or any combinationof devices or entities adapted to perform the functions, operations,and/or processes described herein. As shown in FIG. 3, the user device110 can include an antenna 312, a transmitter 304 (e.g., radio), areceiver 306 (e.g., radio), and a processing element 308 (e.g., CPLDs,microprocessors, multi-core processors, coprocessing entities, ASIPs,microcontrollers, and/or controllers) that provides signals to andreceives signals from the transmitter 304 and receiver 306,respectively.

The signals provided to and received from the transmitter 304 and thereceiver 306, respectively, may include signaling information inaccordance with air interface standards of applicable wireless systems.In this regard, the user device 110 may be capable of operating with oneor more air interface standards, communication protocols, modulationtypes, and access types. More particularly, the user device 110 mayoperate in accordance with any of a number of wireless communicationstandards and protocols, such as those described above with regard tothe control system 100. In a particular embodiment, the user device 110may operate in accordance with multiple wireless communication standardsand protocols, such as UMTS, CDMA2000, 1xRTT, WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, LTE,E-UTRAN, EVDO, HSPA, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, UWB, IR, NFC, Bluetooth™Smart, USB, and/or the like. Similarly, the user device 110 may operatein accordance with multiple wired communication standards and protocols,such as those described above with regard to the control system 100 viaa network interface 320.

Via these communication standards and protocols, the user device 110 cancommunicate with various other entities (e.g., a location device 415)using concepts such as Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD),Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS),Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency Signaling (DTMF), and/or Subscriber IdentityModule Dialer (SIM dialer). The user device 110 can also downloadchanges, add-ons, and updates, for instance, to its firmware, software(e.g., including executable instructions, applications, programmodules), and operating system.

According to one embodiment, the user device 110 may include a locationdetermining aspect, device, module, functionality, and/or similar wordsused herein interchangeably. For example, the user device 110 mayinclude outdoor positioning aspects, such as a location module adaptedto acquire, for example, latitude, longitude, geocode, course,direction, heading, speed, universal time (UTC), date, and/or variousother information/data. In one embodiment, the location module canacquire data, sometimes known as ephemeris data, by identifying thenumber of satellites in view and the relative positions of thosesatellites. The satellites may be a variety of different satellites,including Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems, Department of Defense(DOD) satellite systems, the European Union Galileo positioning systems,the Chinese Compass navigation systems, Indian Regional Navigationalsatellite systems, and/or the like. Alternatively, the locationinformation may be determined by triangulating the user device 110'sposition in connection with a variety of other systems, includingcellular towers, Wi-Fi access points, and/or the like. Similarly, theuser device 110 may include indoor positioning aspects, such as alocation module adapted to acquire, for example, latitude, longitude,geocode, course, direction, heading, speed, time, date, and/or variousother information/data. Some of the indoor systems may use variousposition or location technologies including RFID tags, indoor beacons ortransmitters, Wi-Fi access points, cellular towers, nearby computingdevices (e.g., smartphones, laptops) and/or the like. For instance, suchtechnologies may include the iBeacons, Gimbal proximity beacons,Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) transmitters, Near Field Communication (NFC)transmitters, and/or the like. These indoor positioning aspects can beused in a variety of settings to determine the location of someone orsomething to within inches or centimeters.

The user device 110 may also comprise or be associated with an assetindicia reader, device, module, functionality, and/or similar words usedherein interchangeably. For example, the user device 110 may include anRFID tag reader configured to receive information from passive RFID tagsand/or from active RFID tags associated with an asset 10. The userdevice 110 may additionally or alternatively include an optical readerconfigured for receiving information printed on an asset 10. Forexample, the optical reader may be configured to receive informationstored as a bar code, QR code, or other machine-readable code. The assetindicia reader may be integral to the user device 110 and/or may be anexternal peripheral device in electronic communication with the userdevice 110. The optical reader may also or alternatively be configuredto receive information stored as human readable text, such ascharacters, character strings, symbols, and/or the like. The user device110 may utilize the asset indicia reader to receiving informationregarding an asset 10 to be sorted.

The user device 110 may also comprise a user interface (that can includea display 316 coupled to a processing element 308 and/or a user inputdevice 318 coupled to a processing element 308). For example, the userinterface may be a user application, browser, user interface, and/orsimilar words used herein interchangeably executing on and/or accessiblevia the user device 110 to interact with and/or cause display ofinformation from the control system 100, as described herein. The userinput interface can comprise any of a number of devices allowing theuser device 110 to receive data, such as a keypad (hard or soft), atouch display, voice or motion interfaces, or other input device. Inembodiments including a keypad, the keypad can include (or cause displayof) the conventional numeric (0-9) and related keys (#, *), and otherkeys used for operating the user device 110 and may include a full setof alphabetic keys or set of keys that may be activated to provide afull set of alphanumeric keys. In addition to providing input, the userinput interface can be used, for example, to activate or deactivatecertain functions, such as screen savers and/or sleep modes.

The user device 110 can also include volatile storage or memory 322and/or non-volatile storage or memory 324, which can be embedded and/ormay be removable. For example, the non-volatile memory may be ROM, PROM,EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, MMCs, SD memory cards, Memory Sticks,CBRAM, PRAM, FeRAM, NVRAM, MRAM, RRAM, SONOS, FJG RAM, Millipede memory,racetrack memory, and/or the like. The volatile memory may be RAM, DRAM,SRAM, FPM DRAM, EDO DRAM, SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, DDR3 SDRAM,RDRAM, TTRAM, T-RAM, Z-RAM, RIMM, DIMM, SIMM, VRAM, cache memory,register memory, and/or the like. The volatile and non-volatile storageor memory can store databases, database instances, database managementsystems, data, applications, programs, program modules, scripts, sourcecode, object code, byte code, compiled code, interpreted code, machinecode, executable instructions, and/or the like to implement thefunctions of the user device 110. As indicated, this may include a userapplication that is resident on the entity or accessible through abrowser or other user interface for communicating with the controlsystem 100, location device 415, and/or various other computingentities.

In another embodiment, the user device 110 may include one or morecomponents or functionality that are the same or similar to those of thecontrol system 100, as described in greater detail above. As will berecognized, these architectures and descriptions are provided forexemplary purposes only and are not limiting to the various embodiments.

C. Exemplary Location Device

In various embodiments, one or more sort locations 400 may be associatedwith one or more location devices 415 configured for identifying one ormore assets 10 being sorted to each sort location 400. As non-limitingexamples, such sort locations 400 may include one or more vehicles(e.g., aircraft, tractor-trailer, cargo container, local deliveryvehicles, and/or the like), pallets, identified areas within a building,bins, chutes, conveyor belts, shelves, and/or the like. The one or morelocation devices 415 may be attached to a sort location 400 (e.g.,attached to a vehicle) or located within a sort location 400.Alternatively the one or more location devices 415 may be locatedadjacent to a sort location 400 or otherwise proximate the sort location400. In various embodiments, a location device 415 may be locatedproximate to an area designated to store the sort location 400. Forexample, a location device 415 may be located above each of a pluralityof parking areas designated for one or more delivery vehicles.

In various embodiments, the one or more location devices 415 may includecomponents functionally similar to the control system 100 and/or theuser device 110. As noted above in referencing the control system 100,the term “computing entity” may refer to, for example, one or morecomputers, computing entities, desktops, mobile phones, tablets,phablets, notebooks, laptops, distributed systems, gaming consoles(e.g., Xbox, Play Station, Wii), watches, glasses, key fobs, RFID tags,ear pieces, scanners, televisions, dongles, cameras, wristbands, kiosks,input terminals, servers or server networks, blades, gateways, switches,processing devices, processing entities, set-top boxes, relays, routers,network access points, base stations, the like, and/or any combinationof devices or entities adapted to perform the functions, operations,and/or processes described herein. Like the user device shownschematically in FIG. 3, the location device 415 can include an antenna,a transmitter (e.g., radio), a receiver (e.g., radio), and a processingelement (e.g., CPLDs, microprocessors, multi-core processors,coprocessing entities, ASIPs, microcontrollers, and/or controllers) thatprovides signals to and receives signals from the transmitter andreceiver, respectively.

The signals provided to and received from the transmitter and thereceiver, respectively, may include signaling information in accordancewith air interface standards of applicable wireless systems. In thisregard, the location device 415 may be capable of operating with one ormore air interface standards, communication protocols, modulation types,and access types. More particularly, the location device 415 may operatein accordance with any of a number of wireless communication standardsand protocols, such as those described above with regard to the controlsystem 100. In a particular embodiment, the location device 415 mayoperate in accordance with multiple wireless communication standards andprotocols, such as UMTS, CDMA2000, 1xRTT, WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, LTE, E-UTRAN,EVDO, HSPA, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, UWB, IR, NFC, Bluetooth™, USB, and/orthe like. Similarly, the location device 415 may operate in accordancewith multiple wired communication standards and protocols, such as thosedescribed above with regard to the control system 100 via a networkinterface.

Via these communication standards and protocols, the location device 415can communicate with various other entities (e.g., the user device 110)using concepts such as USSD, SMS, MMS, DTMF, and/or SIM dialer. Thelocation device 415 can also download changes, add-ons, and updates, forinstance, to its firmware, software (e.g., including executableinstructions, applications, program modules), and operating system.

According to one embodiment, the location device 415 may include alocation determining aspect, device, module, functionality, and/orsimilar words used herein interchangeably. For example, the locationdevice 415 may include outdoor positioning aspects, such as a locationmodule adapted to acquire, for example, latitude, longitude, geocode,course, direction, heading, speed, UTC, date, and/or various otherinformation/data. In one embodiment, the location module can acquiredata, sometimes known as ephemeris data, by identifying the number ofsatellites in view and the relative positions of those satellites. Thesatellites may be a variety of different satellites, including LEOsatellite systems, DOD satellite systems, the European Union Galileopositioning systems, the Chinese Compass navigation systems, IndianRegional Navigational satellite systems, and/or the like. Alternatively,the location information may be determined by triangulating the locationdevice 415's position in connection with a variety of other systems,including cellular towers, Wi-Fi access points, and/or the like.Similarly, the location device 415 may include indoor positioningaspects, such as a location module adapted to acquire, for example,latitude, longitude, geocode, course, direction, heading, speed, time,date, and/or various other information/data. Some of the indoor systemsmay use various position or location technologies including RFID tags,indoor beacons or transmitters, Wi-Fi access points, cellular towers,nearby computing devices (e.g., smartphones, laptops) and/or the like.For instance, such technologies may include the iBeacons, Gimbalproximity beacons, BLE transmitters, NFC transmitters, and/or the like.These indoor positioning aspects can be used in a variety of settings todetermine the location of someone or something to within inches orcentimeters.

The location device 415 can also include volatile storage or memoryand/or non-volatile storage or memory, which can be embedded and/or maybe removable. For example, the non-volatile memory may be ROM, PROM,EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, MMCs, SD memory cards, Memory Sticks,CBRAM, PRAM, FeRAM, NVRAM, MRAM, RRAM, SONOS, FJG RAM, Millipede memory,racetrack memory, and/or the like. The volatile memory may be RAM, DRAM,SRAM, FPM DRAM, EDO DRAM, SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, DDR3 SDRAM,RDRAM, TTRAM, T-RAM, Z-RAM, RIMM, DIMM, SIMM, VRAM, cache memory,register memory, and/or the like. The volatile and non-volatile storageor memory can store databases, database instances, database managementsystems, data, applications, programs, program modules, scripts, sourcecode, object code, byte code, compiled code, interpreted code, machinecode, executable instructions, and/or the like to implement thefunctions of the location device 415. As indicated, this may include auser application that is resident on the entity or accessible through abrowser or other user interface for communicating with the controlsystem 100, user device 110, and/or various other computing entities.

In another embodiment, the location device 415 may include one or morecomponents or functionality that are the same or similar to those of thecontrol system 100 or user device 110, as described in greater detailabove. As will be recognized, these architectures and descriptions areprovided for exemplary purposes only and are not limiting to the variousembodiments.

IV. Exemplary Control System Configuration

In various embodiments, the control system 100 may comprise a pluralityof modules, each module configured to perform at least a portion of thefunctions associated with the methods described herein. For example, thecontrol system 100 may comprise an acquisition module, a sort locationmodule, a matching module, and a notification module. Although describedherein as being individual components of the control system 100, thevarious modules may operate on a combination of one or more devices(e.g., the user device 110, location device 415, and/or the controlsystem 100), such that each device performs the functions of one or moremodules.

A. Acquisition Module

In various embodiments, the acquisition module may be configured toobtain asset identifier data regarding an asset 10 to be sorted. Invarious embodiments, the asset identifier data may comprise a uniqueasset identifier (e.g., a tracking code), data defining the one or moreappropriate sort locations 400 for the asset 10 as it moves between anorigin and a destination, and/or the like. As a non-limiting example,the acquisition module may be configured to obtain data from the userdevice 110 (e.g., via the indicia reader). In various embodiments, thedata received from the user device 110 may include the entirety of theasset identifier data and therefore the acquisition module need onlyreceive asset identifier data from the user device 110. However, invarious embodiments, the data received from the user device 110 maycomprise only a portion of the asset identifier data, and theacquisition module may be configured to obtain the remainder of theasset identifier data from one or more other sources. As a non-limitingexample, the acquisition module may be configured to search one or moredatabases in communication with the control system 100 for assetidentifier data corresponding to the data received from the user device110. The acquisition module may additionally be configured to receiveand store at least a portion of the asset identifier data correspondingto the asset 10 that is stored in one or more databases.

In various embodiments, the acquisition module may be configured totransmit at least a portion of the asset identifier data to one or moredevices (e.g., the user device 110, the location device 415, and/or thecontrol system 100) and/or one or more modules (e.g., the sort locationmodule, the matching module, and/or the notification module). Moreover,upon receiving the asset identifier data regarding an asset 10 to besorted, the acquisition module may be configured to link or otherwiseassociate the user device 110 and the asset identifier data. As will bedescribed in greater detail herein, the user device 110 may beassociated with the asset identifier data by storing at least a portionof the asset identifier data in a memory associated with the user device110.

B. Sort Location Module

The sort location module may be configured to receive asset identifierdata from the acquisition module. The sort location module may beconfigured to ascertain the appropriate sort location for the asset 10based at least in part on the asset identifier data. In variousembodiments, each of the plurality of sort locations 400 may beidentified by a unique sort location identifier. The unique sortlocation identifier may comprise a unique character string individuallyidentifying each of the plurality of sort locations 400. Alternatively,the sort location module may be configured to determine the appropriatesort location based at least in part on the asset identifier data andsort location data. In various embodiments, the sort location data maydefine any subsequent processing to be performed on assets 10 withineach sort location 400, and may comprise a unique sort locationidentifier for each of the plurality of sort locations 400 the assets 10will pass through. In various embodiments, the sort location module maydetermine whether the processing to be performed on assets 10 in each ofthe plurality of sort locations 400 (as defined in the sort locationdata) will move the asset 10 closer to its final destination. In variousembodiments, the sort location module may determine whether theprocessing steps to be performed on the assets 10 in each of the sortlocations 400 complies with the service level corresponding to the asset10. As a non-limiting example, the sort location module may determinethe appropriate sort location for an asset 10 to be delivered to 123Main Street, Atlanta, Georgia is a delivery vehicle that will deliverother assets 10 to the same address or nearby addresses (e.g., along thesame delivery route). As a second non-limiting example, the sortlocation module may determine the appropriate sort location for an asset10 to be delivered to 345 Broad Street, Los Angeles, Calif. via Next DayDelivery is a pallet to be loaded onto a plane destined for Los Angeles,Calif.

After determining the appropriate sort location for the asset 10, thesort location module may be configured to transmit data defining theappropriate sort location to one or more devices (e.g., the user device110, the location device 415, and/or the control system 100) and/ormodules (e.g., the matching module and/or the notification module).

C. Matching Module

The matching module may be configured to receive asset identifier datafrom the acquisition module and/or the sort location module, and may beconfigured to receive data defining the appropriate sort location fromthe sort location module. Moreover, the matching module may beconfigured to receive data indicating the user device 110 (andconsequently the asset 10) is proximate a first sort location 400. Invarious embodiments, the user device 110 and/or one or more locationdevices 415 may determine that the user device 110 is within acommunication area 405 corresponding to the one or more location devices415, and is therefore proximate to the first sort location 400corresponding to the one or more location devices 415. As a non-limitingexample, each of the one or more location devices 415 may be embodied asa wireless beacon broadcasting a signal indicating the identity of theassociated sort location. In various embodiments, each sort location maybe associated with a plurality of such location devices 415. The userdevice 110 may be configured to receive the wireless signals broadcastfrom the plurality of location devices 415 and determine whether thereceived signal satisfies one or more signal criteria. For example, theuser device 110 may determine whether the signal received from each ofthe plurality of location devices 415 satisfies a predetermined signalstrength threshold and/or may determine whether wireless signals arereceived from at least a minimum number of location devices 415broadcasting data regarding a single sort location. Upon a determinationthat the signal received from the plurality of location devices 415satisfies each of the signal criteria, the user device 110 may transmitasset identity data and sort location identity data to the matchingmodule to determine whether the user device 110 is proximate theappropriate sort location for the asset.

Upon determining the user device 110 is proximate a first sort location400, at least one of the user device 110 and the one or more locationdevices 415 may transmit data indicating the user device 110 isproximate the first sort location 400 to the matching module. The dataindicating that the user device 110 is proximate the first sort location400 may also be indicative of the identity of the first sort location400 (e.g., the data may comprise the unique sort location identifiercorresponding to the first sort location 400). The matching module maybe configured to determine whether the first sort location 400 is theappropriate sort location based at least in part on the received datadefining the appropriate sort location.

In various embodiments, the matching module may be configured totransmit data indicating whether the first sort location 400 is theappropriate sort location to one or more devices (the user device 110and/or the one or more location devices 415) and/or one or more modules(e.g., the notification module). For example, upon a determination thatthe proximate sort location 400 is the appropriate sort location, thematching module may generate and transmit confirmation data to thenotification module for additional processing. Alternatively, upon adetermination that the proximate sort location 400 is not theappropriate sort location, the matching module may generate and transmitmistake data to the notification module for additional processing.

In various embodiments, the matching module may additionally beconfigured to link and/or associate the asset identifier data and thesort location identifier data corresponding to the sort location 400 atwhich the asset is deposited. As a non-limiting example, the assetidentifier data may be updated to reflect the link between the assetidentifier data and the sort location identifier data. Alternatively,the sort location identifier data may be updated to reflect each of theassets associated with the sort location 400. As described herein, thematching module may be configured to link the asset identifier data andthe sort location identifier data upon the occurrence of a triggeringevent.

To link and/or associate the asset identifier data and the sort locationidentifier data corresponding to the sort location 400 at which theasset it deposited, the matching module may receive at least a portionof the asset identifier data and at least a portion of the location dataand associate these data in, for example, one or more databases. Aspreviously noted, however, the matching module may be configured toassociate the asset identifier data and the sort location data byupdating at least one of the asset identifier data or the sort locationdata to reflect the association. Again, the updated data may be storedin one or more databases.

D. Notification Module

In various embodiments, the notification module may receive dataindicating whether the first sort location 400 is the appropriate sortlocation from the matching module. As described herein, the notificationmodule may cause one or more alerts to be generated in order to notifythe user 5 (e.g., sort personnel) whether the asset 10 should bedeposited in the first sort location 400. For example, the notificationmodule may be configured to transmit confirmation data and/or mistakedata to the user device 110 and/or the one or more location devices 415in order to cause at least one of the devices to generate an alertdiscernible by the user 5 (e.g., sort personnel) indicative of theappropriate sort location for the asset 10.

In various embodiments, the notification module may cause the userdevice 110 to display a confirmation message upon a determination thatthe first sort location 400 is the appropriate sort location. Asnon-limiting examples, the confirmation message may indicate that thefirst sort location 400 is the appropriate sort location, or theconfirmation message may indicate that an asset has been deposited atthe appropriate sort location. Alternatively, the notification modulemay cause a light located near the first sort location 400 to illuminateupon a determination that the first sort location 400 is the appropriatesort location. As yet another non-limiting example, the notificationmodule may cause the user device 110 to display a message upon adetermination that the first sort location 400 is not the appropriatesort location. Similarly, the notification module may cause a lightlocated near the first sort location 400 to illuminate upon adetermination that the proximate sort location 400 is not theappropriate sort location. In various embodiments, the notificationmodule may cause one or more sounds to be generated, one or more lightsto illuminate, one or more mechanical assemblies to move, and/or otherprocesses discernible by a user 5 to operate and thus indicate to theuser 5 whether the first sort location 400 is the appropriate sortlocation.

Moreover, the notification module may be configured to generate an alertafter associating asset identifier data with location data. Thenotification module may be configured to generate an alert to inform theuser 5 (e.g., sort personnel) or other users regarding asset identifierdata being associated with location data. As a non-limiting example, thenotification module may be configured to cause a message to be displayedvia the user device 110 in order to notify the user 5 that assetidentifier data corresponding to an asset 10 has been associated withlocation data corresponding to a sort location. Thus, the notificationmodule may facilitate a determination that asset identifier data hasbeen incorrectly associated with location data, and may thereforefacilitate the correction of an inappropriate association. For example,based upon the generated alert, the user 5 may determine that the assetidentification data was incorrectly associated with a location datacorresponding to a first sort location 400.

V. Exemplary System Operation

As will be described in greater detail herein, the various entitiesillustrated in FIG. 1 may operate to provide a user 5 (e.g., sortpersonnel) information regarding the appropriate sort location todeposit an asset 10.

A. Exemplary User Device Operation

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary environment in which assets 10 are movedfrom an intake location 450 (e.g., an unsorted location) to one or moresort locations 400. In various embodiments, a user 5 (e.g., sortpersonnel) may utilize a user device 110 as described herein whiletransporting assets 10 from an intake location 450 to one or more sortlocations 400. As described herein, the user device 110 may beconfigured for receiving information regarding a particular asset 10 tobe sorted, and for informing the user 5 whether the asset 10 is beingsorted to the appropriate sort location.

FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary steps carried out by the user device 110according to various embodiments of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, the user device 110 may be configured to receiveasset identifier data associated with an asset 10 to be sorted at Block501. In various embodiments, the user 5 may utilize the indicia readerto scan, read, or otherwise receive asset identifier data from the asset10. As noted herein, the asset identifier data may be printed orotherwise affixed to the asset 10 to be sorted. In various embodiments,the user device 110 may receive asset identifier data by, for example,reading an RFID tag associated with the asset 10, reading a bar code, QRcode, character string, and/or symbol printed on the asset 10 orotherwise associated with the asset 10, and/or otherwise obtaining assetidentifier data regarding the asset 10 to be sorted. The user device 110may be configured to store the asset identifier data in a memoryassociated with the user device for later retrieval and use.

As noted above, in various embodiments, the asset identifier data maycomprise a unique asset identifier, such as a tracking code or otherunique identifier. Alternatively or additionally, the asset identifierdata may comprise origin identifying data (e.g., origin address, shipperidentity, and/or the like), destination identifying data (e.g.,destination address, recipient identity, and/or the like), service leveldata (e.g., Same Day shipping, Next Day Air, Second Day Air, 3 DaySelect, Ground shipping, and/or the like), and/or the like. Moreover, invarious embodiments, the asset identifier data may comprise moredetailed data regarding the asset 10 to be sorted, such as sortlocations 400 for each intermediate shipping point. In variousembodiments, the asset identifier data may be updated at various timesduring the shipping process. For example, after determining anappropriate sort location for the asset 10 to be sorted (a processdescribed in greater detail herein), the asset identifier data may beupdated to reflect the appropriate sort location. Alternatively, theasset identifier data may be fixed after being created, such that it isnot updated with new and/or alternative information during shipment.

After receiving asset identifier data regarding the asset 10 to besorted, the user device 110 may be configured to transmit the assetidentifier data to the control system 100 at Block 502. The controlsystem 100 may be configured to determine an appropriate sort locationfor the asset 10 based at least in part on the asset identifier data.The control system 100 may be configured to transmit data identifyingthe appropriate sort location to the user device 110, and the userdevice may be configured to receive data indicative of the appropriatesort location from the control system 100 at Block 503. In variousembodiments, the asset identifier data may be updated to reflect theappropriate sort location. The control system 100 may be configured toupdate the asset identifier data stored within an asset identifierdatabase. Alternatively, after receiving the appropriate sort locationfrom the control system 100, the user device 110 may be configured toupdate the asset identifier data stored within a memory associated withthe user device 110.

In various embodiments, the user device 110 may be configured to informthe user 5 (e.g., sort personnel) of the appropriate sort location forthe asset 10 at Block 504. As a non-limiting example, the user device110 may cause display of the appropriate sort location via the display316 to the user 5 (e.g., sort personnel) or may audibly inform the user5 of the appropriate sort location for the asset 10. The displayed sortlocation 400 may comprise a sort location identifier, such as a symbol,character string, and/or the like. However, in various embodiments,information indicative of the appropriate sort location may be printedon the asset 10 (e.g., directly onto a surface of the asset 10, onto asticker or other label secured to the asset 10, and/or the like). Invarious embodiments, the user device 110 may not display the appropriatesort location for the asset 10, and accordingly the user 5 may rely onthe information printed on the asset 10 to determine the appropriatesort location. Accordingly, in such embodiments, after receiving assetidentifier data as illustrated in Block 501 of FIG. 5, the user devicemay be configured to thereafter await receipt of sort location data asillustrated in Block 505.

The user 5 (e.g., sort personnel) may transport the asset 10 and theuser device 110 to a sort location 400. As the user 5 nears the sortlocation 400 (e.g., enters the communication area 405 corresponding tothe sort location 400), the user device 110 may establish a wirelesscommunication connection with one or more location devices 415associated with the sort location 400 and receive sort location datafrom the one or more location devices 415 at Block 505. For example, theuser device 110 and location devices 415 may be configured to establisha communication connection when the user device 110 is within apredetermined communication area 405, which may be defined as an areawithin a predetermined distance of each of the one or more locationdevices 415 (e.g., via Bluetooth™, NFC, Wi-Fi, and/or the like). Suchcommunication connection may be a one-way communication connection inwhich signals are broadcast from each of the one or more locationdevices 415 to the user device 110. Such predetermined distance may beestablished based on the effective communication range of the wirelesscommunication protocol utilized. As a non-limiting example, the userdevice 110 and each location device 415 may be configured to communicateusing a Bluetooth™ Smart communication protocol with an effectivecommunication range of approximately 8 feet, although othercommunication protocols with other effective ranges may be used.Therefore, the user device 110 and each of the one or more locationdevices 415 may be configured to establish a communication connectionwhenever the user device 110 is within the effective communication rangeof the utilized communication protocol. Alternatively, the size, shape,and location of the communication area 405 may be established based onother factors, such as the distance between sort locations 400, thedistance between the intake location 450 and the one or more sortlocations 400, and/or the like. The communication area 405 may bedefined as an area within a geofenced area, and the user device 110 andthe one or more location devices 415 may establish a communicationconnection after the user device 110 enters the communication area 405.In various embodiments, the user device 110 is configured to maintain acommunication connection with a plurality of location devices 415concurrently.

As a non-limiting example, each sort location 400 may be associated witha plurality of location devices 415 embodied as wireless beacons eachconfigured to broadcast data indicating the identity of the associatedsort location. Such location devices 415 may be located proximate to thesort location 400, and may be arranged such that the effectivecommunication range of each of the plurality of the location devices 415overlaps within the associated sort location 400 to establish thecommunication area 405. As the user device 110 is moved proximate thesort location, the user device 110 receives the signals broadcast by oneor more of the location devices 415 at Block 505. At Block 506 the userdevice 110 may determine whether the received signals satisfy one ormore signal criteria in order to validate the identity of the proximatesort location. For example, the user device 110 may determine whetherthe signal strength received from each of the one or more locationdevices 415 satisfies a predetermined signal strength threshold (e.g.,the signal strength threshold may define a minimum signal strength).Moreover, the user device 110 may determine whether a signal is receivedfrom a minimum number of location devices 415 associated with aparticular sort location. As yet another example, the user device 110may determine whether a signal indicating that the user device isproximate Delivery Vehicle 123 from at least 3 location devices 415 eachbroadcasting the identity of Delivery Vehicle 123. In variousembodiments, the user device 110 may determine whether two or moresignal criteria are satisfied (e.g., the signal strength threshold andthe minimum number of location devices 415). Such criteria may impedefalse positive determinations that the user device 110 is proximate aparticular sort location. For example, as a user approaches a pluralityof sort locations, the user device 110 may receive weak signals from atleast one location device 415 associated with each of a plurality ofsort locations. By ensuring that the signal strength of the signalreceived from a particular location device 415 satisfies a predeterminedthreshold, weak signals received from location devices 415 associatedwith distant sort locations may be disregarded. Moreover, by ensuringthat signals are received from a minimum number of location devices 415associated with a particular sort location, the user device 110 mayensure that it is positioned within or proximate a single sort location,rather than between two or more sort locations. In various embodiments,the user device 110 may be configured to periodically (e.g., every 5seconds) and/or continuously determine whether the one or more signalcriteria are satisfied.

Upon determining that the signals received by the user device 110satisfy the one or more signal criteria, the user device 110 maytransmit the sort location identity data received from the one or morelocation devices 415 and the asset identity data to the control system100 at Block 506. The control system 100 may then determine whether theuser device 110 is proximate the appropriate sort location for theasset. The control system 100 may be configured to transmit anindication of whether the user device 110 is proximate the appropriatesort location to the user device 110.

Alternatively, after the user device 110 enters the communication area405, the user device 110 may be configured to transmit the assetidentifier to the location devices 415. In various embodiments whereinthe asset identifier data comprises data regarding the appropriate sortlocation for the asset 10, the location devices 415 may be configured totransmit data indicating whether the user device 110, and consequentlythe user 5 and asset 10, is proximate the appropriate sort location(e.g., within the communication area 405) to the user device 110. Invarious embodiments, the one or more location devices 415 may beconfigured to transmit at least a portion of the asset identifier datato the control system 100, which may be configured to determine whetherthe user device 110 is proximate the appropriate sort location. Thecontrol system 100 may be configured to transmit an indication ofwhether the user device 110 is proximate the appropriate sort locationto the one or more location devices 415, which may be configured totransmit an indication of whether the user device is proximate theappropriate sort location to the user device 110. Referring again toFIG. 5, upon a determination that the user device 110 is proximate anincorrect sort location 400 (e.g., within a communication area 405corresponding to a final delivery vehicle that does not travel to theasset's 10 destination address) at Block 508, at least one of thecontrol system 100 and/or the one or more location devices 415 may beconfigured to transmit mistake data to the user device 110, and the userdevice 110 may be configured to receive the mistake data at Block 512.Upon receiving the mistake data, the user device 110 may be configuredto generate a mistake message to inform the user 5 (e.g., sortpersonnel) that the asset 10 is proximate an incorrect sort location 400at Block 513. As a non-limiting example, the user device 110 may beconfigured to cause display of a mistake message via the display 316,emit a warning sound, and/or otherwise warn the user 5 that the userdevice 110 is proximate an incorrect sort location 400. Thus, as anon-limiting example, mistake data may be generated if the user 5approaches an incorrect sort location and/or enters an incorrect sortlocation. As indicated at Block 514, the user device 110 may unlink theasset identifier data and the user device 110 such that the assetidentifier data is cleared from the memory of the user device 110 suchthat the asset identifier data is no longer stored in the memory of theuser device 110 upon the occurrence of a triggering event. Suchtriggering event may be, for example, reading, scanning, or otherwisereceiving asset identifier data (e.g., via the indicia reader device)while the user device 110 is in the communication area 405, losingconnection between one or more location devices 415 and the user device110 (e.g., upon a determination that the wireless communicationconnection between the plurality of location devices 415 and the userdevice 110 no longer satisfy the signal criteria), after receiving assetidentifier data regarding a second asset 10, and/or otherwise after atriggering event. In various embodiments, the user device 110 may beconfigured to reset, or otherwise dissociate the asset identified datafrom the user device 110 upon the occurrence of a triggering event.Accordingly, in the event that the user device 110 is located proximatean incorrect sort location, the user may be required to rescan theindicia associated with the asset 10 to relink the asset identified datawith the user device 110 before transporting the asset 10 to theappropriate sort location.

At Block 515, the user 5 (e.g., sort personnel) may transport the asset10 out of the communication area 405 corresponding to the incorrect sortlocation 400, and may transport the asset 10 to the appropriate sortlocation. After removing the asset 10 (and consequently the user device110) from the communication area 405 associated with the incorrect sortlocation 400, and after the user device 110 unlinks the asset identifierdata from the user device 110, the process reverts to Block 501.However, in various embodiments, the user device 110 may be configuredto associate the asset identifier data with sort location data at Block515, and the process may end. As a non-limiting example, the user device110 may be configured to associate the asset identifier data with thesort location identifier data upon the occurrence of a triggering event.Such triggering event may be, for example, reading, scanning, orotherwise receiving asset identifier data (e.g., via the indicia readerdevice) while the user device 110 is in the communication area 405,losing connection between one or more location devices 415 and the userdevice 110 (e.g., upon a determination that the wireless communicationconnection between the plurality of location devices 415 and the userdevice 110 no longer satisfy the signal criteria), after receiving assetidentifier data regarding a second asset 10, and/or otherwise after atriggering event. In various embodiments, the user device 110 may beconfigured to reset, or otherwise dissociate the asset identifier datafrom the user device 110 upon the occurrence of a triggering event.

The user device 110 may also or alternatively be configured to resetand/or unlink the asset identifier data after a predetermined amount oftime after receiving the mistake data; after scanning, reading, orotherwise receiving the asset identifier data regarding the asset 10(e.g., via the indicia reader) while the user device 110 is locatedwithin the communication area 405, after receiving asset identifier dataregarding a second asset 10; and/or otherwise after a triggering event.The user device 110 may be utilized to receive asset identifier dataregarding a subsequent asset 10 to be sorted, and the process isrepeated.

Referring again to Block 508, the process may proceed after transmissionof the asset identifier data and/or sort location identifier data to theone or more location devices 415 and/or control system 100 (illustratedas Block 507) with reference to Blocks 509-511 if the user 5 approachesthe appropriate sort location. Upon a determination that the user device110 is proximate and/or within the appropriate sort location (e.g.,within the communication area 405 corresponding to the appropriate sortlocation), the control system 100 and/or the one or more locationdevices 415 may be configured to transmit confirmation data to the userdevice 110 indicating the user device 110 is proximate the appropriatesort location for the asset 10, and the user device 110 may beconfigured to receive the confirmation data at Block 509. Upon receivingthe confirmation data, the user device 110 may be configured to generatea confirmation message to inform the user 5 (e.g., sort personnel) thatthe asset 10 is near the appropriate sort location at Block 510. As anon-limiting example, the user device 110 may be configured to causedisplay of a confirmation message via the display 316, emit aconfirmation sound, and/or otherwise provide the user 5 withconfirmation that the user device 110 is proximate the appropriate sortlocation.

In various embodiments, after receiving the confirmation data, the userdevice 110 may be configured to associate the asset identifier data witha sort location identifier. Alternatively, the asset identifier data maybe transmitted to the control system 100, which may be configured toassociate the asset identifier data with the sort location data.

After receiving the confirmation data and/or after another triggeringevent, the user device 110 may be configured to dissociate, unlink,delete, clear, or otherwise remove the asset identifier data regardingthe recently sorted asset 10 from the active memory of the user device110 at Block 511. The user device 110 may be configured to unlink theasset identifier data after the user device 110 determines that the oneor more signal criteria are no longer satisfied, after a predeterminedamount of time after receiving the confirmation data; after scanning,reading, or otherwise receiving the asset identifier data regarding theasset 10 (e.g., via the indicia reader) while the user device 110 islocated within the communication area 405; after receiving assetidentifier data regarding a second asset 10; after receiving user inputvia the user device 110; and/or otherwise after a triggering event. Theuser device 110 may be utilized to receive asset identifier dataregarding a subsequent asset 10 to be sorted, and the process may berepeated.

The user device 110 may have any of a variety of configurations. Forexample, the user device 110 may not transmit or receive data (e.g.,asset identifier data) from the control system 100, and may instead onlytransmit and receive data from one or more location devices 415.Moreover, the user device 110 may not generate and/or displayappropriate sort location data, and instead the user 5 (e.g., sortpersonnel) may be required to ascertain the appropriate sort locationfor an asset 10 without a reminder or other indication from the userdevice 110. Alternatively, the appropriate sort location may be printedon the asset 10 in human readable form such that the user 5 (e.g., sortpersonnel) may determine the appropriate sort location based oninformation printed on or otherwise physically associated with the asset10.

As yet another alternative, the user device 110 need not establish a newconnection with one or more proximate location devices 415 each time theuser device enters a connection area 405. In various embodiments, theuser device 110 may maintain connections with each of the plurality oflocation devices 415 associated with each of the plurality of sortlocations 400. Upon a determination that the user device 110 enters theconnection area 405, the user device may be configured to transmit assetidentifier data to the one or more location devices 415 associated withthe connection area, and/or the user device 110 may be configured totransmit the asset identifier data and sort location identified dataindicative of the identity of the proximate sort location to the controlsystem 100. For example, such determination may be made based at leastin part on the location of the user device 110 relative to a geofencesurrounding the sort location and/or one or more location devices 415,the communication signal strength, and/or the like. Thus, although theuser device 110 may maintain active connections with each of theplurality of location devices 415, the various system components (e.g.,the user device 110, the one or more location devices 415, and/or thecontrol system 100) may be configured to determine the appropriate oneor more location devices 415 to receive asset identifier data from theuser device 110 based at least in part on the location of the userdevice.

In various embodiments, the user device 110 may be configured toassociate the asset identifier data and the location data prior to adetermination whether the first sort location 400 is the appropriatesort location for the asset 10. Alternatively, the user device 110 maybe configured to associate the asset identifier data and the locationdata without determining whether the first sort location 400 is theappropriate sort location for the asset 10. In these and otherembodiments, the user device 110 may be configured to receive locationdata from one or more location devices 415 regarding the associated sortlocation 400 after entering the associated communication area 405. Afterreceiving the location data from the one or more location devices 415,the user device 110 may be configured to associate the location data andthe asset identifier data. In various embodiments, the user device 110may be configured to transmit the associated location data and assetidentifier data to one or more databases for storage. Alternatively, theuser device 110 may be configured to transmit an indication regardingthe association between the asset identifier data and the location datato a control system 100, which may be configured to update data storedin one or more associated databases to reflect the association betweenthe asset identifier data and the location data.

The user device 110 may be further configured to generate one or morealerts regarding the association between the asset identifier data andthe location data. The user device 110 may be configured to generate analert to inform the user 5 (e.g., sort personnel) or other usersregarding asset identifier data being associated with location data. Asa non-limiting example, the user device 110 may be configured to cause amessage to be displayed in order to notify the user 5 that assetidentifier data corresponding to an asset 10 has been associated withlocation data corresponding to a sort location. Thus, the user device110 may facilitate a determination that asset identifier data has beenincorrectly associated with location data, and may therefore facilitatethe correction of an inappropriate association. For example, based uponthe generated alert, the user 5 may determine that the assetidentification data was incorrectly associated with a location datacorresponding to a first sort location 400.

B. Exemplary Location Device Operation

In various embodiments, each sort location may be associated with aplurality of location devices 415 embodied as wireless beacons eachconfigured to broadcast data indicative of the identity of theassociated sort location 400 such that the user device 110 may receivesuch broadcast data. Accordingly, each location device 415 may beconfigured to establish a one-way communication connection with a userdevice 110 such that each of the location devices 415 may transmit data,but not receive data from the user device 110. For example, eachlocation device 415 may be configured to transmit data indicative of theidentity of the sort location 400 to the user device 110 upon the userdevice entering the broadcast area of the location device 415. The userdevice 110 may then be configured to transmit the sort location identitydata and/or the asset identity data indicative of the identity of theasset being transported by the user to the control system 100 foradditional processing.

Alternatively, each location device 415 may be configured to transmitand/or receive data from the user device 110 and/or the control system100. FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary steps carried out by a location device415 according to various embodiments of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 6, each location device 415 may receive assetidentifier data at Block 601. The asset identifier data may betransmitted to one or more location devices 415 from a user device 110.As previously described, the asset identifier data may comprise a uniqueasset identifier, such as a tracking code or other unique identifier.Alternatively or additionally, the asset identifier data may compriseorigin identifying data (e.g., origin address, shipper identity, and/orthe like), destination identifying data (e.g., destination address,recipient identity, and/or the like), service level data (e.g., Same Dayshipping, Next Day Air, Second Day Air, 3 Day Select, Ground shipping,and/or the like), and/or the like. Moreover, in various embodiments, theasset identifier data may comprise more detailed data regarding theasset 10 to be sorted, such as sort locations 400 for each intermediateshipping point. In various embodiments, the asset identifier data may beupdated at various times during the shipping process. For example, afterdetermining an appropriate sort location for the asset 10 to be sorted(a process described in greater detail herein), the asset identifierdata may be updated to reflect the appropriate sort location.Alternatively, the asset identifier data may be fixed after beingcreated, such that it is not updated with new and/or alternativeinformation during shipment.

In various embodiments, each location device 415 may be configured toreceive asset identifier data from a user device 110 after establishinga communication connection with the user device 110. In variousembodiments, a connection (e.g., a two-way communication connection)between the location device 415 and the user device 110 may only beestablished upon the user device 110 entering the communication area 405associated with the location device 415. As a non-limiting example, thesize, shape, and location of the communication area 405 may be based onany number of factors, such as, for example, the effective communicationrange of the communication protocol utilized. Alternatively oradditionally, the size, shape, and location of the communication area405 may be based on other factors, such as the distance between sortlocations 400, and/or the distance between the intake location 450(e.g., an unsorted location) and the sort locations 400. As previouslynoted, the location device 415 may be configured to initiate aconnection with a user device 110 only after the user device enters thepredetermined communication area 405 defined by, for example, ageofence.

In various embodiments, the location device 415 may be configured totransmit at least a portion of the received asset identifier data to thecontrol system 100 at Block 602. The control system 100 may beconfigured to determine the appropriate sort location for the asset 10based at least in part on the asset identifier information received fromthe location device 415. Alternatively, the location device 415 may beconfigured to determine whether the sort location 400 associated withthe location device is the appropriate sort location for the asset 10.As a non-limiting example, where the asset identifier data comprisesdata indicating an appropriate sort location, the location device 415may be configured to compare the appropriate sort location indicated bythe asset identifier data and the sort location 400 associated with thelocation device 415 to determine whether there is a match. As indicatedat Block 603, the remaining steps to be completed may be selected basedat least in part on a determination of whether the location device 415corresponds to the appropriate sort location.

Upon a determination that the sort location 400 associated with thelocation device 415 is not the determined appropriate sort location, thelocation device is configured to receive mistake data at Block 607. Asindicated herein, the mistake data may indicate that the user device 110is proximate the incorrect sort location 400. Alternatively, thelocation device 415 may be configured to generate mistake data basedupon a determination that the user device 110 is proximate an incorrectsort location 400 for the asset 10.

At Block 608, the location device 415 may be configured to transmit themistake data to the user device 110. As indicated herein, the userdevice 110 may be configured to generate an indication discernible bythe user 5 that the proximate sort location 400 (i.e., the sort locationassociated with the location device 415) is not the determinedappropriate sort location for the asset 10. The user 5 (e.g., sortpersonnel) may then continue transporting the asset 10 (and consequentlythe user device 110) to another sort location 400 at Block 609, and theprocess ends at Block 611. In various embodiments, the process may beginagain for a second (or subsequent) set of one or more location devices415 upon the user device 110 entering a second (or subsequent)communication area 405 associated with the second set of one or morelocation devices. Alternatively, the user 5 (e.g., sort personnel) maydeposit the asset 10 at the sort location 400 associated with thelocation device 415, and the location device may associate the assetidentifier data with sort location identifier data at Block 610. As anon-limiting example, the location device 415 may associate the assetidentifier data with the sort location identifier data upon theoccurrence of a triggering event. As non-limiting examples, suchtriggering event may include determining that the communication signalbetween the user device 110 and the one or more location devices 415does not satisfy the signal criteria; receiving asset identifier datafrom the user device 110 while the user device is located within thecommunication area 405; determining that the user device 110 remains inthe communication area 405 for a predetermined amount of time; receivinguser input (e.g., pressing a specific key on the user device 110);and/or the like.

Referring again to Block 603, the process may proceed after transmissionof the asset identifier data to the control system 100 (illustrated asBlock 602) with reference to Blocks 604-606 if the user 5 approaches theappropriate sort location. Upon a determination that the sort location400 associated with the location device 415 is the appropriate sortlocation, the location device may be configured to receive confirmationdata at Block 604. As indicated herein, the confirmation data mayindicate that the user device 110 is proximate the appropriate sortlocation. Alternatively, the location device 415 may be configured togenerate confirmation data based upon a determination that the userdevice 110 is proximate the appropriate sort location for the asset 10.

At Block 605, the location device 415 may be configured to transmit theconfirmation data to the user device 110. As indicated herein, the userdevice 110 may be configured to generate an indication discernible bythe user 5 that the proximate sort location 400 (i.e., the sort location400 associated with the location device 415) is the determinedappropriate sort location for the asset 10. The user 5 (e.g., sortpersonnel) may then deposit the asset 10 at the appropriate sortlocation. At Block 606, the location device 415 may associate the assetidentifier data with sort location identifier data upon the occurrenceof a triggering event. As non-limiting examples, the triggering eventmay be the expiration of a predetermined amount of time after receivingor generating confirmation data, the reception of asset identifier datawhile the user device 110 is within the communication area 405, thereception of user input via the user device 110, and/or the like.

The location device 415 may have any of a variety of differentconfigurations. As a non-limiting example, the location device 415 maynot transmit or receive data (e.g., asset identifier data and/or dataidentifying the appropriate sort location) from the control system 100.Instead, the location device 415 may be configured to communicate (e.g.,broadcast) the identity of the sort location 400 associated with thelocation device to the user device 110, and the user device 110 and/orthe control system 100 may be configured to determine whether the sortlocation 400 is the appropriate sort location. Moreover, the locationdevice 415 may not be configured to associate asset identifier data withsort location identifier data. In various embodiments, the locationdevice 415 may be configured to only transmit indications to the userdevice 110 upon a determination that the user device 110 is proximate anincorrect sort location 400. As yet another alternative, the locationdevice 415 may be configured to provide indications directly to the user5 regarding whether the associated sort location 400 is the appropriatesort location. As a non-limiting example, the location device 415 maycause a sound to be emitted from an associated output device, or maycause a light to be illuminated based on the determination of whetherthe associated sort location 400 is the appropriate sort location forthe asset 10.

In various embodiments, the location device 415 may be configured toassociate the asset identifier data and the location data prior to adetermination whether the first sort location 400 is the appropriatesort location for the asset 10. Alternatively, the location device 415may be configured to associate the asset identifier data and thelocation data without determining whether the first sort location 400 isthe appropriate sort location for the asset 10. In these and otherembodiments, the location device 415 may be configured to receive assetidentifier data from a user device 110 regarding an asset after the userdevice 110 enters the communication area 405 associated with thelocation device 415. After receiving the asset identifier data from theuser device 110, the location device 415 may be configured to associatethe location data and the asset identifier data. In various embodiments,the location device 415 may be configured to transmit the associatedlocation data and asset identifier data to one or more databases forstorage. Alternatively, the location device 415 may be configured totransmit an indication regarding the association between the assetidentifier data and the location data to a control system 100, which maybe configured to update data stored in one or more associated databasesto reflect the association between the asset identifier data and thelocation data.

The location device 415 may be further configured to generate one ormore alerts regarding the association between the asset identifier dataand the location data. The location device 415 may be configured togenerate an alert to inform the user 5 (e.g., sort personnel) or otherusers regarding asset identifier data being associated with locationdata. As a non-limiting example, the location device 415 may beconfigured to cause a message to be displayed via the user device 110 inorder to notify the user 5 that asset identifier data corresponding toan asset 10 has been associated with location data corresponding to asort location. Thus, the location device 415 may facilitate adetermination that asset identifier data has been incorrectly associatedwith location data, and may therefore facilitate the correction of aninappropriate association. For example, based upon the generated alert,the user 5 may determine that the asset identification data wasincorrectly associated with a location data corresponding to a firstsort location 400.

C. Exemplary Control System Operation

FIG. 7 illustrates exemplary steps carried out by the control system 100according to various embodiments of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 7, the control system 100 may receive assetidentifier data at Block 701. As indicated herein, the asset indicatordata may be received from the user device 110 and/or the one or morelocation devices 415.

The asset identifier data may comprise a unique asset identifier, suchas a tracking code or other unique identifier. Alternatively oradditionally, the asset identifier data may comprise origin identifyingdata (e.g., origin address, shipper identity, and/or the like),destination identifying data (e.g., destination address, recipientidentity, and/or the like), service level data (e.g., Same Day shipping,Next Day Air, Second Day Air, 3 Day Select, Ground shipping, and/or thelike), and/or the like. Moreover, in various embodiments, the assetidentifier data may comprise more detailed data regarding the asset 10to be sorted, such as sort locations 400 for each intermediate shippingpoint. In various embodiments, the asset identifier data may be updatedat various times during the shipping process. For example, afterdetermining an appropriate sort location for the asset 10 to be sorted(a process described in greater detail herein), the asset identifierdata may be updated to reflect the appropriate sort location.Alternatively, the asset identifier data may be fixed after beingcreated, such that it is not updated with new and/or alternativeinformation during shipment.

At Block 702, the control system 100 may be configured to determine theappropriate sort location for the asset 10. In various embodiments, thedetermination of the appropriate sort location for the asset 10 may bebased at least in part on the received asset identifier data. Moreover,the control system 100 may utilize sort location data corresponding toeach of the sort locations 400 to determine whether any subsequentprocessing to be performed on assets 10 at each sort location 400 willmove the asset 10 closer to its final destination. As a non-limitingexample, the control system 100 may determine the appropriate sortlocation for an asset 10 to be delivered to 123 Main Street, Atlanta,Ga. is the delivery vehicle that will deliver other assets 10 to 123Main Street, Atlanta, Ga. As a second non-limiting example, the controlsystem 100 may determine the appropriate sort location for an asset 10to be delivered to 345 Broad Street, Los Angeles, Calif. via Next DayDelivery is a pallet to be loaded onto a plane destined for Los Angeles,Calif. As yet another alternative, the control system 100 may beconfigured to identify a sort location 400 previously assigned to theasset 10.

Referring again to FIG. 7, at Block 703 the control system 100 may beconfigured to transmit data identifying the appropriate sort location tothe user device 110. As noted herein, the user device 110 may beconfigured to generate an indication discernible by the user 5 (e.g.,sort personnel) regarding the appropriate sort location for the asset10. However, as noted herein, each asset 10 may have informationindicative of an appropriate sort location printed thereon, andaccordingly the control system 100 may not transmit appropriate sortlocation data to the user device 110 for display to the user 5.

The control system 100 may be configured to receive sort location datafrom the user device 110 and/or the location device 415 upon the userdevice entering the communication area 405 corresponding to the locationdevice 415 at Block 704. At Block 705, the control system 100 maysubsequently compare the appropriate sort location and the sort locationdata received at Block 704 to determine whether the user device 110 isproximate the appropriate sort location. As indicated at Block 706, theremaining steps to be completed may be selected based at least in parton a determination of whether the location device 415 corresponds to theappropriate sort location.

Upon a determination that the user device 110 is proximate an incorrectsort location 400, the control system 100 may generate mistake data atBlock 710. Upon generating the mistake data, the control system 100 maytransmit the mistake data to the user device 110 and/or the locationdevice 415 at Block 711. As indicated herein, the user device 110 and/orthe location device 415 may be configured to generate a messagediscernible by the user 5 (e.g., sort personnel) indicating the userdevice 110 is proximate an incorrect sort location 400. In variousembodiments, the control system 100 may be configured to associate theasset identifier data with the sort location data corresponding to thesort location 400 at Block 712. In various embodiments, the controlsystem 100 may be configured to associate the asset identifier data withthe sort location data upon the occurrence of a triggering event.Exemplary triggering event may comprise, reading, scanning, or otherwisereceiving asset identifier data (e.g., via the indicia reader device)while the user device 110 is in the communication area 405, receivingasset identifier data regarding a second asset 10, receiving user inputvia the user device 110, and/or the like.

At Block 713, the user 5 may continue transporting the asset 10 (andconsequently the user device 110) to another sort location 400. Theprocess may return to Block 701 and repeat the recited steps. In variousembodiments, the user may be required to rescan the indicia of the assetwith the user device 110, and accordingly the control system 100 mayreceive the asset identifier data from the user device 110 asillustrated in Block 701. Alternatively, the user 5 (e.g., sortpersonnel) may deposit the asset 10 at the incorrect sort location 400,and process may end.

Referring again to Block 706, the process may proceed after comparingthe sort location data and the appropriate sort location data for theasset 10 (illustrated as Block 705) with reference to Blocks 707-709 ifthe user 5 approaches the appropriate sort location. Upon adetermination that the user device 110 is proximate the appropriate sortlocation, the control system 100 may be configured to generateconfirmation data at Block 707. The control system 100 may be configuredto then transmit the confirmation data to user device 110 and/or thelocation device 415 at Block 708. As indicated herein, the user device110 and/or the location device 415 may generate a message discernible bythe user 5 (e.g., sort personnel) indicating that the user device 110 isproximate the appropriate sort location for the asset 10.

At Block 708, the control system 100 may be configured to associate theasset identifier data with the sort location data corresponding to thesort location 400. In various embodiments, the control system 100 may beconfigured to associate the asset identifier data with the sort locationdata upon the occurrence of a triggering event. Such triggering eventmay be, for example, a determination that the user device 110 is nolonger in communication with the one or more location devices 415 (e.g.,upon a determination that the communication connection between the userdevice 110 and one or more location devices 415 does not meet the signalcriteria), reading, scanning, or otherwise receiving asset identifierdata (e.g., via the indicia reader device) while the user device 110 isin the communication area 405, after receiving asset identifier dataregarding a second asset 10, and/or otherwise after a triggering event.

In various embodiments, the control system 100 may be configured toassociate the asset identifier data and the location data prior to adetermination whether the first sort location 400 is the appropriatesort location for the asset 10. Alternatively, the control system 100may be configured to associate the asset identifier data and thelocation data without determining whether the first sort location 400 isthe appropriate sort location for the asset 10. In these and otherembodiments, the control system 100 may be configured to receive assetidentifier data and location data from a location device 415 and/or auser device 110. After receiving the asset identifier data and thelocation data, the control system 100 may be configured to associate thelocation data and the asset identifier data. In various embodiments, thecontrol system 100 may be configured to transmit the associated locationdata and asset identifier data to one or more databases for storage.

The control system 100 may be further configured to generate one or morealerts regarding the association between the asset identifier data andthe location data. The control system 100 may be configured to generatean alert to inform the user 5 (e.g., sort personnel) or other usersregarding asset identifier data being associated with location data. Asa non-limiting example, the control system 100 may be configured tocause a message to be displayed via the user device 110 in order tonotify the user 5 that asset identifier data corresponding to an asset10 has been associated with location data corresponding to a sortlocation. Thus, the control system 100 may facilitate a determinationthat asset identifier data has been incorrectly associated with locationdata, and may therefore facilitate the correction of an inappropriateassociation. For example, based upon the generated alert, the user 5 maydetermine that the asset identification data was incorrectly associatedwith a location data corresponding to a first sort location 400.

VI. Exemplary Use

Referring again to FIG. 4, shown is a schematic of an example sortfacility in which assets 10 are moved by a user 5 (e.g., sort personnel)from an intake location 450 (e.g., a conveyor belt moving unsortedassets 10 into the sort facility) to one of a plurality of sortlocations 400.

As shown in FIG. 4, a user 5 may remove an asset 10 from an intakelocation 450 and scan, read, or otherwise obtain an asset indicia fromthe asset 10 using the user device 110. The user device 110 may receiveand store asset identifier data based at least in part on theinformation received from the asset indicia. The user 5 may thentransport (e.g., carry) the asset 10 and the user device 110 away fromthe intake location 450 and to one of the plurality of sort locations400. As the user 5 nears a sort location 400, and thus enters thecommunication area 405, the user device 110 may receive sort locationidentifier data from one or more location devices 415 associated withthe proximate sort location 400 (illustrated by the dashed lineconnecting the user device 110 and location device 415 in FIG. 4). Uponreceipt of sort location identifier data from one or more locationdevices 415, the user device 110 may determine whether the signalsreceived from the one or more location devices 415 satisfy signalcriteria. For example, the user device 110 may determine whether thesignal received from each of the plurality of location devices 415satisfies a predetermined signal strength threshold and/or may determinewhether wireless signals are received from at least a minimum number oflocation devices 415 broadcasting data regarding a single sort location.Upon a determination that the signal received from the plurality oflocation devices 415 satisfies each of the signal criteria, the userdevice 110 may transmit asset identity data and sort location identitydata to the control system 100 to determine whether the user device 110is proximate the appropriate sort location for the asset.

Alternatively, upon entering the communication area 405, the user device110 may transmit the stored asset identifier data to the one or morelocation devices 415 (illustrated by the dashed line connecting the userdevice 110 and location device 415 in FIG. 4). As yet anotheralternative, at least one of the user device 110 or the location device415 may transmit asset identifier data and/or location data to thecontrol system 100 (illustrated by the dashed lines connecting the userdevice 110 to the control system 100 and location device 415 to thecontrol system in FIG. 4). At least one device (e.g., the user device110, location device 415, and/or the control system 100) may determinethe appropriate sort location for the asset 10, and may compare the sortlocation identifier data corresponding to the proximate sort location400 and the appropriate sort location. Upon a determination that theproximate sort location 400 is not the appropriate sort location, theuser device 110 and/or the location device 415 may be configured togenerate an alert to notify the user 5 that the asset 10 should not beplaced at the proximate sort location 400.

Upon a determination that the proximate sort location 400 is theappropriate sort location, the user device 110 and/or the locationdevice 415 may be configured to generate an alert to notify the user 5that the asset 10 should be placed at the proximate sort location 400.The user device 110 may then be configured to await a triggering eventbefore preparing to receive asset identifier data regarding a secondasset 10 to be sorted. As a non-limiting example, the triggering eventmay be a determination by the user device 110 that the communicationsignal between the user device 110 and the one or more location devices415 no longer satisfies the signal criteria. As another example, theuser 5 may scan, read, or otherwise obtain the asset indicia for theasset 10 while the user device 110 remains in the connection area 405,and/or may supply a user input via the user device 110. Alternatively,the triggering event may be the expiration of a predefined period oftime after the user device 110 receives data indicating that theproximate sort location 400 is the appropriate sort location for theasset 10. As yet another example triggering event, the user device 110may be configured to prepare to receive asset identifier data regardinga second asset 10 only after scanning, reading, or otherwise obtainingan asset indicia corresponding to the second asset 10. In variousembodiments, the user device 110 may be configured to clear the assetidentifier data regarding the asset 10 from the user device memory uponthe occurrence of the triggering event.

Moreover, in various embodiments, at least one device (e.g., the userdevice 110, the location device 415, and/or the control system 100) maybe configured to associate the location data and the asset identifierdata. After the user device 110 enters the communication area 405, theat least one device may be configured to associate the location datacorresponding to the sort location associated with the communicationarea 405 with the asset identifier data corresponding to the asset 10linked or associated with the user device 110. In various embodiments,the at least one device may be configured to associate the location dataand the asset identifier data upon the occurrence of a triggering event.Additionally or alternatively, the at least one device may be configuredto associate the location data and the asset identifier data afterdetermining that the proximate sort location 400 (e.g., the sortlocation corresponding to the communication area 405 in which the userdevice 110 is present) is the appropriate sort location for the asset10.

After depositing the asset 10 at a sort location 400, the user 5 mayreturn to the intake location 450 with the user device 110 and begin theabove described method for a second asset 10 to be sorted.

V. Conclusion

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theseinventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. For example, variousembodiments may be configured to associate a plurality of assets with aparticular sort location. In such embodiments, a sort employee may scana plurality of asset identifiers (e.g., sequentially) beforetransporting the plurality of items to a sort location. Thereafter, theplurality of assets may be associated with the proximate sort locationaccording to the features and methods described herein. Therefore, it isto be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to thespecific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and otherembodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appendedclaims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in ageneric and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed:
 1. A system comprising one or more storage areasand one or more processors, the system configured to: receive assetidentifier data corresponding to an asset from a handheld user device,wherein the asset identifier data is stored in a memory associated withthe handheld user device in response to scanning an asset indiciaassociated with the asset; after the handheld user device is broughtwithin a communication area associated with at least one sort locationto enable data transfer between the handheld user device and one or morelocation devices associated with the at least one sort location, receivelocation data indicative of the location of the handheld user devicerelative to the at least one sort location; associate the assetidentifier data with the location data; determine whether the at leastone sort location is the appropriate sort location for the asset; andtransmit an alert to the handheld user device indicating whether the atleast one sort location is the appropriate sort location for the asset.2. The system of claim 1, wherein the location data is indicative ofdata stored on the one or more location devices associated with the atleast one sort location.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the locationdata is received from the one or more location devices associated withthe at least one sort location.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein thelocation data is received from the handheld user device after the one ormore location devices associated with the at least one sort locationtransmits the location data to the handheld user device.
 5. The systemof claim 1, wherein the data transfer between the handheld user deviceand the one or more location devices is a one-way data transfer.
 6. Thesystem of claim 5, wherein the data is transferred from the one or morelocation devices to the handheld user device.
 7. A computer-implementedmethod for associating a sorted asset with a sort location, the methodcomprising steps for: receiving, via one or more computer processors andfrom a handheld user device, asset identifier data corresponding to anasset, wherein the asset identifier data is stored in a memoryassociated with the handheld user device in response to scanning anasset indicia associated with the asset; after the handheld user deviceis brought within a communication area associated with at least one sortlocation to enable data transfer between the handheld user device andone or more location devices associated with the at least one sortlocation, receiving, via the one or more computer processors, locationdata indicative of the location of the handheld user device relative tothe at least one sort location; associating, via the one or morecomputer processors, the asset identifier data with the location data;determining, via the one or more computer processors, whether the atleast one sort location is the appropriate sort location for the asset;and transmitting, via the one or more computer processors, an alert tothe handheld user device indicating whether the at least one sortlocation is the appropriate sort location for the asset.
 8. The methodof claim 7, wherein the location data is indicative of data stored onthe one or more location devices associated with the at least one sortlocation.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the location data isreceived from the one or more location devices associated with the atleast one sort location.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the locationdata is received from the handheld user device after the one or morelocation devices associated with the at least one sort locationtransmits the location data to the handheld user device.
 11. The methodof claim 7, wherein the data transfer between the handheld user deviceand the one or more location devices is a one-way data transfer.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the data is transferred from the one or morelocation devices to the handheld user device.
 13. A computer programproduct comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein,the computer-readable program code portions comprising: an executableportion configured to receive, from a handheld user device, assetidentifier data corresponding to an asset, wherein the asset identifierdata is stored in a memory associated with the handheld user device inresponse to scanning an asset indicia associated with the asset; anexecutable portion configured to, after the handheld user device isbrought within a communication area associated with at least one sortlocation to enable data transfer between the handheld user device andone or more location devices associated with the at least one sortlocation, receive via the one or more computer processors, location dataindicative of the location of the handheld user device relative to theat least one sort location; an executable portion configured toassociate the asset identifier data with the location data; anexecutable portion configured to determine whether the at least one sortlocation is the appropriate sort location for the asset; and anexecutable portion configured to transmit an alert to the handheld userdevice indicating whether the at least one sort location is theappropriate sort location for the asset.
 14. The computer programproduct of claim 13, wherein the location data is indicative of datastored on the one or more location devices associated with the at leastone sort location.
 15. The computer program product of claim 13, whereinthe location data is received from the one or more location devicesassociated with the at least one sort location.
 16. The computer programproduct of claim 13, wherein the location data is received from thehandheld user device after the one or more location devices associatedwith the at least one sort location transmits the location data to thehandheld user device.
 17. The computer program product of claim 13,wherein the data transfer between the handheld user device and the oneor more location devices is a one-way data transfer.
 18. The computerprogram product of claim 17, wherein the data is transferred from theone or more location devices to the handheld user device.